WOMEN IN PEST CONTROL: PAULA LOMAX

It is a common misconception that all pest control technicians are male. Yes, the majority of these positions are filled by men, but there are women who truly shine in this industry. In this blog series, we hope to highlight the amazing ladies that take on all things creepy and crawly here at Black Diamond.

Paula Lomax, Tactical K-9 Operations Supervisor, has been with Black Diamond for over a year now and has an extensive background in K-9 training. You rarely see Paula without a dog following close behind, eager to fulfill her next command and earn their favorite toy or treat. Our bed bug detecting K-9s are often very excited to work and are full of energy. Paula provides the perfect complement to this energy by keeping a calm and patient demeanor when working with these dogs. She challenges the old saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” daily and truly makes it look easy.

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Here is her view on her career in the pest control industry:

What first interested you in the pest control field?
“K9 Bed Bug Detection”

What is your favorite aspect of your job in pest control?
“Training dogs to find bed bugs and then working with those dogs to solve bed bug problems. It’s a great day when your dog finds one bed bug in an entire room, which happens often, or you’ve had a breakthrough in training with one of the young dogs. Every day is rewarding.”

How do you overcome “gross” situations involving pests?
“My goal is to provide the best customer service possible at every job. I’m there to find insects, kill insects, and educate our customers so it’s easy to put smells, dirt, and creepy crawlies out of my mind to accomplish that goal.”

What is it like being a woman in a mostly male-dominated field?
“To be honest I hadn’t noticed. I’ve always been treated with respect and expected to do the same job as anyone else. Occasionally, I might get a comment from a female customer when a woman shows up at their door but never in a negative way.”

What advice would you give to anyone interested in a career in pest control?
“Pursue it! It’s fun, challenging, full of physical activity, and will feed your brain. It’s my dream job.”

Looking for more than just a job? For more information about careers with Black Diamond visit our page.